20 Quotes About Minimalism to Inspire Intentional Living
Did you know that Buddha, way back in 563 BCE, credited minimalism as one of the elements of practice that helped him reach enlightenment?
Although minimalism may seem like a fairly new concept, you might be surprised to find that the practice has probably been around for longer than you think. Some may argue the origins of minimalism, but one thing is for sure; people have been talking about it for quite a long time.
So to follow in the great man’s footsteps, here are the best 20 quotes about minimalism that will help you let go of material bonds and embrace the joys of simple living.
20 Quotes about Minimalism
Life is like a game of chess.Buddha, 563 BCE
To win you have to make a move.Confucius
Knowing which move to make comes with IN-SIGHTLao Tzu
and knowledge, and by learning the lessons that areSocrates
acculated along the way.Epicurus
We become each and every piece within the game called life!Marcus Aurelius
It is not the man who has too little, but the man who craves more, that is poor.Seneca
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.Leonardo Da Vinci
Live simply, so others may simply live.Mahatma Gandhi
Too many people spend money they haven’t earned, to buy things they don’t want, to impress people they don’t like.Will Rogers
I believe that a simple and unassuming manner of life is best for everyone, best both for the body and the mind.Albert Einstein
One of the advantages of being born in an affluent society is that if one has any intelligence at all, one will realize that having more and more won’t solve the problem, and happiness does not lie in possessions, or even relationships: The answer lies within ourselves. If we can’t find peace and happiness there, it’s not going to come from the outside.Tenzin Palmo
There are two ways to be rich: One is by acquiring much, and the other is by desiring little.Jack French Koller
I’ve learned that minimalism is not about what you own, it’s about why you own it.Brain Knapp Gardner
Some changes look negative on the surface but you will soon realize that space is being created in your life for something to new emerge.Eckhart Tolle
If one's life is simple, contentment has to come. Simplicity is extremely important for happiness. Having few desires, feeling satisfied with what you have, is very vital: satisfaction with just enough food, clothing, and shelter to protect yourself from the elements. And finally, there is an intense delight in abandoning faulty states of mind and in cultivating helpful ones in meditation.Dalai Lama
The things you own end up owning you.Joshua Fields Millburn
So in fact, narrowing down our choices means less overwhelm, and more creativity.Courtney Carver
Collect moments, not things.Paulo Coelho
Final Thoughts
As you can see, the great minds of not just our time but also eons before us have been grappling with the idea of an overcluttered and overcomplicated life.
And just as you are now, these great people sought to fill the holes left by unhappiness and dissatisfaction with not more materialism but with quite the opposite: Minimalism.
As counterintuitive as it may seem, the practice of minimalism can, in fact, deeply enrichen your life. Discarding the possessions that we all have been socialized to think are necessary isn’t always the easiest thing to achieve.
But hopefully, with a few inspiring words from some of the world’s greatest philosophers and thinkers, you will soon be on your way to dropping the baggage of material belongings; and in the process, finding more contentment and happiness than you ever could before.